Care providers and businesses called brockton knocks down diabetes continues to partner together to combat a growing Public Health crisis in the states seventh largest city. Diabetes. Brockton has health rates of hospitalization due to diabetes that are nearly twice the stage average. Last year this coalition of organizations led by the old colony ymca secured a 1. 2 million grant to fight diabetes and other chronic diseases. To tell us more about the work going on in these two towns to fight the growing issue of diabetes we have invited al whit center, joyce dwyer, and finally, jennifer white, Public Relation for Harbor One Bank, a partner in several local projects that focus on basic human needs. Welcome to urban update. Thanks for coming in. And albert, lets start with you. Lets talk about some of the. Basic reasons behind this high rate of chronic disease and diabetes in brockton and stoughton. I would say that part of sit probably due to environmental issues, meaning that lack of fresh fruits and vegetables, lack of green spaces, strong contributing factors towards incidents of do you understand. In addition to that brockton has a Large Community of people from other cultures and part of that is that there is this whole millionth that the more you eat, the better you are the more prosperous you are. Its almost considered to be not right if you were to eat healthy, or Something Like that. So some lack of education around diabetes management or what could contribute to a healthier lifestyle. Talk to us about your jeannie you be the how and why you set up looking for Strategic Partners to raise awareness to that problem. I think brockton is unique in the sense that there was a coalition of people that came together who saw the need that this incidentals of diabetes needed to be lets make a an attempt to eradicate it. And it wasnt just the Health Providers or the Health Entities a that were rallied behind thanks but we were able to get the y as well as the American Diabetes association to come together and develop this coalition, and theres about 40 strong that are part of the initiative and we are working to eradicate this disease. Very impressive. Jennifer white talk to me what attracted Harbor One Bank to this organization. Yeah, youre wondering what does the bank have to do with diabetes. But five years ago my predecessor and others really went out and did a Needs Assessment of what was facing the Brockton Community and diabetes is a major health crisis, and it was a Community Issue that was affecting our employees as well as customers. So we wanted to convene folks around this issue. Get our employees out, and really be part of this coalition of as al mentioned 40 plus strong. But brockton is the tightknit community. Weve been there almost 100 years, and we feel strongly about really getting to the root causes of this issue. Joyce dwyer, menaced menaced in our introduction that theres good news in the fight. Talk to me about why the cdc contributed toward the coalitions efforts in this specific region. I think some of what al and jen has already said, and that is theres definitely a need for access to care and Healthy Living within brockton, as well as the way that that city with stoughton at this point has come and provide services to route the city of brockton and instituten, and thats that collective impact of having all those folks around the table, and the diversity of programs we have been able to offer and tonight continue to grow over the last five years has been recognized by the cdc. Albert, can you falk more about i guess, specifically about brockton knocks down diabetes. What it is, and how people can participate. So brockton knocks down diabetes is a great event. It usually takes place in the month of june. And whats unique about it is the city of brockton is open to anyone in the area that wants to learn more about diabetes. There are a plethora of free activities that are provided. So for example i could go to the y and have a Free Membership i could talk the audibles there are things for approximately People Living with type one. Its a plethora of activities that are available around diabetes. And pit culminates with a walk as well as a Minute Health fair, where people can actually be screened. Gets more information, celebrate the success of brockton and celebrate just living a healthier lifestyle. Jennifer white, talk to me about what do coalitions like this that will bring such a Diverse Group of partners what community. I think its huge. I think one of the things weve collaboration, we talk about some of the environmental factors, access to transportation or healthy foods. These are complex problems, and a single entity isnt going to solve it. But when you bring a who can share their expertise and resources together, you get better results. I think the other thing that weve learned is to look at the community, see whats good, so what we go we can plug in. Dont recreate the wheel but find things that are working. Last year, during brockton knocks down diabetes, we wanted to reach out to more kids, to we partnered with a longterm road raise and as a result we were able to engage more kids in our educational programs, so finding whats good and plugging into that, and as al mentioned celebrating the community. And joyce, what about the what is this addition funding allowing the coalition to do to combats the growth of diabetic. So this particular funding really has a look at the most vulnerable population in the city of brockton. We find that serving with this grant has very limited access to any type of care or food or physical activity. So collectively. We all get together and we really help work with the faith based organizations to give these people more access to care. And explain the disease process of diabetes. So theyre aware that theyre predisposed to diabetes, and we have been working on translation and will interpretation, so weve been using interpreters to help us with language barrier p we also been working to translate materiality. And i see you have up on the screen there diabetes and coloradan tick Disease Screening sunday february 7 at st. Edith stein on east main street in brockton. Were in the fifth year of this brockton knocks down diabetes. How do you feel about where its going, the impact youve been having . I see where we began and i see where were at now and i think that in itself speaks volumes and the fact that we have 40 some odd members of this coalition. And its growing and not only that i would definitely say that i have even received questions from other communities. This is a great initiative. Can we model it. So i see it as growing but i also see it as eventually becoming a National Model for eradicateing domestic violence. Ask what would you like to say the to the people in the Brockton Stoughton community, the greater brockton area about this . Its a wonderful event. Come out. Its free, and i do stress free. But its also a time where we can celebrate community and the the health of our community. And well leave it right jennifer white. Brockton knocks down diabetes. When we come back well discuss the cost by the way cottedding the Academy Awards because of lack of nominees of people of color, stay with us, well be right back. But with the Citizens Bank education refinance loan, it gets even better. R you know those people who pay a little extra t and get all the legroom in coach . That could be you, t if you refinance your Student Loans. I can refinance . Yes, you could replace your current Student Loans with one new loan and save money on interest. Sounds easy it is easy so, treat yourself to something from that inflight magazine. Or save up for a new car, a wedding or a down payment on the home of your dreams. Have a question about how much you can save . Ask a citizen at 18669990242 is really that will effective, so i think he has a platform, and an amazing platform. Its a huge irony because its not through lack of talent that these people are not there. Boycott, if he boycotted i suppose it would be a 1day story, but knowing chris rock can people are going to be watching for that reason. Im sure hell say a number of memorable things. But at the end of the day, do you think this is something we should care that much about . Afterall, its entertainment. Some people, including a number of black actors are saying its just that big of a deal. Or is it a big deal, because even though this is entertainment because this is our culture. Absolutely. Represent the best of the best the industry, and so by this nomination, the message that theyre sending is that there arent enough black or latino or asian, because were not just talking about black, were talking about minorities. Its sending a message is there enough black or latino talent and thats wrong. Before we go i want to take a talked about this before on the show, talking about politics, president ial campaign is really roaring ahead now. Were getting up to the time when people are voting. Donald trump, i guess as allah tina weve talked about your thoughts about donald trump, and when we were on the show months ago, did you think we would still be talking about donald trump . Of course not. I think i mean this is all New Territory for everyone. It just seems like he gains more steam and more popularity, the most brazen and antiimmigrant and offense i and insulting as he gets, so i really dont know what the end game is. Theres still a lot of time. Thats my were still ten, 11 months away from the actual election day. Theres still a lot of unknowns. And the primary. You dont speak for all latinos, but i guess if your opinion, is there anything donald trump could say or do that could win him a significant enough amount of the latino vote . I dont doubt that there are people that simple these with him who are latino and asian. Latinos come until all different shapes and sizes, so im sure there are a lot of latinos that are going to feel inclined to vote for donald trump but theres not enough of them. Okay f when we have you back on well well hash it out then. Okay, marcela garcia, thanks for coming in. Coming up, protester at Logan International airport rally at the minimum wage the 15 per hour for airport workers p right here on urban update, well be backdrop of the Martin Luther king jr. Holiday, some 200 labor advocates and Logan International airport workers rallied at the airport to call for a 15dollar an hour minimum wage for airport workers. The peaceful protest was described the call for higher pay as an important element of the southerly and economy justice king advocated during his lifetime. Organizers pointed autothat logan generates close to 9 billion a year in Economic Activity and the low wages show a major injustice at the heart of an economic engine for the region. The plans civil disordinals incident. One of those arrested was seui Union Vice President for local 615 roxanne in a rivera. And karl, a baggage hander at the airport. Welcome to urban update. Thanks for coming in. Congratulations, by the way, on your election there in chelsea. Why were you out there on monday . You were an elected official. Why do you feel so strongly about this cause . Well, living so close to the airport, a lot of my constituents are employees of airport. My city is gentry if iing. Having somebody to represent you whether you get paid 17 an hour with benefits or making minimum wage and having to depend on government assistance and me being little bitted by the people i feel its important for me to be there to speak on their behalf. Now, you were willing to put yourself out there, you protested and being arrest. Tell me why. I dont think theres a better way to celebrate the legacy of dr. Martin luther king, by getting arrested and protesting. Given that he actually was assassinated just standing with sanitation workers. And the issue, the fight for the airport workers is a fight for justice at the airport and many of the folks are immigrants and women of color, people of color. And that even they they work fulltime at the airport they have to rely on public assistance. I think thats wrong. And anything that we can do to not make these workers invisible is important, and so i felt strongly about that. And not only myself but others took that step as well. So you were arrested and put in a holding cell. They put those ties behind your back. Yes. Did it hurt . It was uncomfortable. Okay, well, you madeira point. It was worth it, i assume. Yes. Karl, talk to us about your real life situation, what you do, how much you going to paid, and i guess what would a raise of what difference would it make in your life. So im a parttime employee for a contractor, and i do baggage handling handling and customer service. Workers would be that it would help it would allow the and you get paid how much . 11 an hour. Now, would you like to see do you think more elected officials should be getting involved in taking a position on any . Absolutely. I havent reached tout anybody. I just kind of do what i have to do. I did reach out to some people ho helped me within my campaign and part of the people who are im an activist by nature, so a lot of the people im associated with. But i definitely people that elected official, youre voted in by the people and you have an obligation to represent them. We have these big considerations making money off the backs of people who cant speak the language, if youre in the going to speak an their behalf i dont think were worthy of being in that officer. This a reality . Who holds the cards . Who are you aiming your fire at . I think its twofold. One is the airlines, the aarons have create this situation where theyve out sourced the jobs of folk that clean the planes, handle the baggage, wheelchair assistance. So they basically havent gone to low road contractors that basically they will create these poor working conditions, so is airlines can really inverses in more high road contractors that can pay decent livable wages. Karl, i guess, as a baggage handler who makes 11 an hour, what do you want to say to the people powers that be. If anyone puts in their time and labor into any job, with regards to at the airport or wherever else they deserve fair and so like Bernie Sanders says throughout his campaign that deserves 15 around an hour, because everyone deserves fair and just wages. So youre feeling the burn there. I guess, do you feel that this protest was a success and i guess where do you see things going from here . So we feel it was a success. First,s our goal was to have a peaceful protest, which we felt we accomplished. We also wanted to make sure that the travelers know that poverty wages and poverty jobs still exist at the airport and we believe thats wrong. So we feel that will weve accomplished that. And again youre talking about as we said in the introduction here, a 9 billion industry and thats the point you want to press on to everyone as well. Well, were going to have to wrap it up there because were out of time. Thank you all for coming and okay. Urban update. Im byron barnett. Have a great sunday everyone, and go pats, bring back a win from denver today